Process of molding concrete bricks or blocks.



N0` 818,286. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. W. PORTI-JN.

PROCESS 0F MOLDING CONCRETE BRICKS OR BLCCKS. APPLICATION MLBD SBF120,1905.

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T0 all whom, it may concern:

St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have `Bricks cr Blocks, of which thefollowing is a iJNTTEn STATES PATENT fonnion.

Specification of Letters Patent.

WILLIAM PORTEN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. PROCESS CF MOLDING CONCRETEBRICKS OR BLOCKS.

1:ate11teol April 17, 1906.

Application filed September 20, 1905. Serial No. 279,249.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PoRTEN, of

invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Process of MoldingConcrete sp ecificatir; n.

The object of my present invention is to provide a process of moldingconcrete bricks or blocks which will cause them to present a smooth-iinislied surface resembling diat of the ordinary pressed brick.

A further object is to provide a molding process by means of which theexposed surface of the brick or block can be rendered impervious tomoisture, if desircfl.

My process consists, rst, in sifting into a mold having a hard smoothfioor a thin layer of cement neat or mixed with a fine grade of sand orwith a suitable coloring, or with both, in the roper proportion to forma smoothnishe facing impervious to moisture and of the desired shade ofcolor and then filling up and tamping the mold with a mixture of coarsesand and a comparatively less quantity of cement.

In carrying out my invention I may provide a mold such as is shown inthe drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of amold, showing the bricks or blocks after the molding operation iscompleted and before their removal. Fig. 2 is a similar viewillustrating the bricks removed from the mold and showing thesmooth-finished facing for the exposed surface of the brick. Fig. 3illustrates the manner of molding a corner brick or block.

In carrying out my invention I provide a mold consisting of a frame 2,having a moldbox bed or base 3 hinged t" creen at 4. The

6, and a wall 7, parallel with the wall 5 and removably secured to theend walls by a lockand-latch device 8. A handle 9 is provided on the boxfor convenience in tilting it on its hinges to deposit the bricks uponthe brackets 10 at the side of the machine. Smooth plates 11, preferablyof metal, are provided in the bottom ofthe box with spaces between theircontiguous edges, and vertically-movable partitions 12 are arranged topass between the said plates, dividing the box into The partitions areraised and lowered by means of a rockl shaft 13, having connections 14with the par titions and an operating-lever 15.

In construction the machine is substantially the same as the onedescribed in a certain pending application for Letters Patent of theUnited States, filed by me on July 17, 1905, Serial No. 270,005.

To fri-rm smooth-finished surfaces on the faces of the brick, I sprinklea mixture of fine sand and cement in the ratio of about two to one inthe bottom of each mold and then fill the meld with a mixirture ofcoarser sand and cement in the ratio of about five to one and then tampthe mold contents down firmly upc-n the smooth plates at the bottom, andwhen the bricks are removed one face, as shown in Fig. 2, will have asmooth-finished surface very similar to that of a pressed brick. If itis desired to render the face of the brick impervious to moisture, thena smaller percentage of sand is used for the facing or omitted entirely,the facing being' made up oi cement neat with a backing of coarse sandand cement of any suitable proportions. If it is desired to provide acolored face for the brick, the cement and sand are mixed with asuitable portion of mineral orf. i

other suitable coloring, or a cement and coloring mixture may beemployed Without any sand. If a large percentage of the facing iscomposed of cement or it is made entirely of cement, the facing will beless pervious to moisture than where a considerable percentage of sandis used, and the shade of the facing will also be determined by thequantity of coloring therein.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the process adapted for forming a corner brick orblock where it is desirable :to form a finished facing on the end aswell as the side of the block. In this figure 16 represents adivision-plate that is inserted into the mold near one of the sidewalls, which has a smooth surface corresponding to the plates at thebottom of the mold. This division-plate is held vertically in the moldand the mixture filled in on both sides until a thin layer is formed onthe bottom and between the division-plate and the side wall. Then thecoarser mixtures is spread upon the bottom layer and the division-plateraised and the mixtures tamped down together. Then the mold is filledWith the coarser mixture and the divisionlate removed and the wholecontents of t e mold firmly tamped, and when the blockfis re- 1rol ICOIOS

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moved one side and end will have a smooth hard face, Which may beimpervious to moisture, depending upon the percentage of cement used,and of any suitable color. If a rock-face is desired on the block, thesmooth side Wall is removed from the mold and one having a rough unevensurface substituted therefor. If preferred, rough plates may be employedin the bottom of the mold to form a rock-face on the side of the block.lfVhen the mold has been filled and tamped, a pallet 17 is laid thereon,and the operator, holding the pallet firmly, Will grasp the handle 9 andinvert the mold-box on its hinges until the pallet rests upon thebrackets l0, the vertical partitions 12 havin been previously withdrawnfrom the mol -box by the operation of the lever 15. As soon as thepallet rests upon the brackets 10 the operator will swing the Inold backto its normal position upon the frame of the machine, leaving the blocksresting upon thelpallet and ready to be taken 'away to dry. Thepartition-plates are then raised, the facing material placed in thebottom of the mold, and the operation described repeated.

I cla-im as my inventionl. A process of molding concrete bricks orblocks Which consists in placing a thin layer of cement in a mold havinga hard smooth floor to form on the block a finished facing impervious tomoisture, and then filling up and tamping the mold with a mixture ofcoarse sand and cement to form a comparatively porous backing,substantially as described.

2. A rocess of making aconcrete'brick or block W .ch consists in placinga thin layer of fine sand and cement mixed 1n suitable proportions in amold having a hard smooth floor to form a finished facing on the block,and then illinCr up and tamplng the mold with a mixture of coarser sandand proportionately less cement whereby a softer, more ervious backingwill be formed, substantial y as described. y

3. A rocess of making a concrete brick or block which consists inplacinfr in a mold having a hard smooth floor a thinayer of cement andcoloring mixture in suitable proportions to produce the desired shade ofcolor and form a smooth-finished facing on the brick, and then fillingup and tamping the mold With a mixture of coarse sand andproportionately less cement whereby a softer, more pervious backing Willbe formed.

4. A process of making a concrete brick or block Which consists inplacin in a mold having a hard smooth floor a thin ayer of cement mixedwith fine sand and coloring in suitable proportions to produce thedesired shade of color and form a hard'giishedfaingon the brick, andthen filling up and tamping the mold with a mixture of coarse sand andproportionately less cement, substantially as described.

5. A process of making a concrete brick or block which consists inplacing a vertical division-plate in a mold having a smooth hard floorand a smooth vertical Wall near said plate and sifting a cement mixtureupon the bottom of the mold and filling the space between thedivision-plate and the vertical Wall with the same material to formhorizontal and vertical facings, then placing a mixture of coarse sandand cement upon said horizontal facing and raising the division-boardand tamping the mixtures together, and finally completely. filling themold With said lastnamed mixture to form a backing for said horizontaland vertical facing-layers and entirely removing the division-plate andtamping the mixtures together, substantially as described.

6. A process of making a concrete brick or block which consists inplacing a vertical division-plate in a mold having a iioor and avertical wall near said plate and sifting a cement mixture upon thebottom of the mold and filling the space between the; divisionplate andthe vertical Wall with the same material to form horizontal and verticalfacings, then placing a mixture of coarse sand and cement upon the saidhorizontal facing and raising the division-board and tamping themixtures together, and finally filling the mold With said last-namedmixture to form a backing for said horizontal and vertical facinglayersand entirely removing the divisionplate and tamping the mixturestogether, substantially as described. l

In witness whereof I have hereunto set m hand this 16th day ofSeptember, 1905.353@

l/VILLIAM PORTEN lVitnesses f' RICHARD PAUL, C. MACNAMARA.

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